Automotive

800-volt all-electric Range Rover promises V8-level performance

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Land Rover shows the first images of the upcoming Range Rover Electric
Jaguar Land Rover
Land Rover shows the first images of the upcoming Range Rover Electric
Jaguar Land Rover
The Range Rover Electric will come with 800-V electrical architecture for fast, convenient charging
Jaguar Land Rover
This one appears to be a new "electric" interpretation of the current Range Rover grille, with flat black surfaces where other Range Rover models have open vents
Jaguar Land Rover
This rear quarter looks very much the same as other Range Rover models
Jaguar Land Rover
EV wheel badging
Jaguar Land Rover
Looks more like rose gold to us, but perhaps a copper-styled trim to underline the all-electric powertrain
Jaguar Land Rover
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Range Rover's first all-electric utility vehicle is currently deep in testing, undergoing the vehicular torture that any good Landy must survive before it can throw on a coat of glossy paint and look pretty in the showroom. Land Rover officially opened up the preorder waiting list today, confirming that the new fully electric model will offer performance comparable to a flagship V8 variant, along with the full "Rover" package of off-road capability, including the wherewithal to wade through nearly 3 feet (914 cm) of water.

Land Rover expects the Range Rover Electric to collect more patents than any other Range Rover in history, and all that innovation will go into ensuring the new model offers the seamless luxury SUV experience its customers have come to demand. An 800-V electrical architecture will provide for the fastest-possible charging, and Land Rover promises energy partnerships that will presumably make it easier to locate a charging station. That's an important factor for a brand that runs nearly synonymous with "auto touring."

The Range Rover Electric will come with 800-V electrical architecture for fast, convenient charging
Jaguar Land Rover

Land Rover also says its engineering team is on track to making the Range Rover Electric the badge's quietest vehicle ever, building upon the near-silent nature of the electric powertrain with active road noise cancellation and meticulous attention to acoustics.

The Range Rover Electric promises to be more than pure luxury, though, pairing its on-road refinement with full off-road capability. It will be ready to hard-left off the pavement at any given moment and handle everything a true Range Rover can, including wading comfortably through waters up to 33.4 in (848 cm) deep. Land Rover also promises "hallmark towing" capability ... though the battery range implications of towing make it a sticky subject with all-electric vehicles.

"The magic ingredients that underpin the success of Range Rover remain unchanged: timeless, reductionist design, a serene cabin and capability – but now offered with zero tailpipe emissions," sums up Thomas Müller, Jaguar Land Rover executive director of product engineering.

This rear quarter looks very much the same as other Range Rover models
Jaguar Land Rover

Land Rover released the first teaser photos of its all-electric design today, and while they don't show much, they do reveal an SUV that shares the thin vertical taillights, flat lower tailgate and central badging with the rest of the Range Rover lineup. The exterior changes we can identify so far appear quite modest, limited to unique trim and badging like the "EV" wheel caps.

Range Rover says that the first Range Rover EV prototypes have started extreme weather testing from Sweden to Dubai in temperatures ranging between -40 and 122 °F (-40 to +50 °C). The testing regimen has been specially tailored to Range Rover's first all-electric vehicle, taking into account the robustness of the electric drive, battery and underfloor chassis integration.

EV wheel badging
Jaguar Land Rover

The Range Rover will be built atop JLR's flexible Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) in Solihull alongside plug-in hybrid Range Rover models. The batteries and EDUs, meanwhile, will be built and assembled at the company's Electric Propulsion Manufacturing Center in Wolverhampton, UK.

Those looking to get in on preordering their preorder can sign up on the Range Rover Electric waiting list on the brand's website.

Source: Land Rover

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5 comments
MCG
I'm excited to see the final result! It seems the best solution currently for towing, is to have the camper electrified as well, I know of one already out there with this feature. This ensures the rig is basically pulling nothing, energy wise, until the trailer drains as well. Presumably, that is long enough to make a day's travel without breaking a sweat.
Rocky Stefano
Sure V8 performance for 30 minutes and then you need to retrofit the wiring for 5 square kms around your home to handle 800V charging because no one else supports it. Forgetaboutit in the winter by the way when you lose 30% of that battery capacity. All for a $350k sticker price? Yeah that's ok I'll stick with a petrol vehicle to the last.
Bob809
Lets hope the wiring is better than in the ICE versions.
BlueOak
A plethora of words, but virtually devoid of specs a date, or even an estimated price. Nothing whatsoever to react to here. Pure empty PR bluster.

But you can go to their site and be seduced by a sultry model, person model, that is.
WONKY KLERKY
I'm in concert with Rocky + Bob809 + BlueOak above.
'Tis the UK automotive champion of form over function
[unless the function intended is to out-pose and out-brag yer mates in Chelsea (dahlings)].